California has snow. Nevada has rainbows. Idaho……is flat. And has windmills. This is what we have learned so far on our trek from Truckee to West Yellowstone. Other things we have learned: there are at least three female truck drivers between California and Idaho; I am a hipster; leftover brussels sprouts are surprisingly tasty (when saturated with bacon); and gravy baked into bread is a total success. Patrick and Spencer, through extensive experiementation, have learned that cows located on the left side of the road are less responsive to loud noises than cows who reside on the right side of the road (going east). We have also discovered that Martin can drop some smooth lyrics and that we were instructed to pack lunches (thank god for the brussels sprouts and gravy bread). Despite Martin’s lyric-dropping talents, he gets easily excited when looking for potato fields and may be likely to veer (nearly) off the road. We also did some field research in Twin Falls, Idaho, during which we discovered that there IS some level of diversity in Idaho, as well as a lot of thrift stores in a very small area. Idaho brings up many questions for us….for example, what does one do in Idaho? And more importantly, there is a place called Seagull Bay in Idaho….why? A final fact gained in a casino Starbucks in Elko, Nevada: Baja Fresh is not seafood.

I am up in Tahoe City again after a couple of days spent visiting various Brautigams in Reno and Truckee. I struggled to motivate for a workout today. It was rainy, and I don’t like rainy. I grew up surrounded by desert climate, and usually rain is a welcome thing, but I really start to dislike it when it comes in November and it’s supposed to be white and fluffy. I ended up doing a strength session today because they can be quick and still beneficial. This way I could sit around on my computer organizing my iTunes library without feeling so guilty about not having done any training today. Typically I don’t like working out inside, especially on contraptions like treadmills, but with strength it doesn’t bother me as much.

I hope the altitude of the snow line drops soon, so that we can return to sunny, snowy California here in Tahoe City because I’m looking forward to skiing Tahoe XC, though I think that most of the XC places with a bit more elevation like ASC got some snow.

Unrelated to the strength session, but here is a picture from a ski I had at TDXC earlier this past week. As you can tell, PK and August had a good time despite the significant melting. It probably was because it wasn’t raining.

Music: The Aussies turned me onto a band called The Jezebels, and I’ve been really into this song called Dark Storm

I made it. After 7 days of long drives, beautiful views (colorado, Utah), not so beautiful views (won’t mention any in order to avoid hurt feelings), and one very dirty car, I’ve arrived in Truckee. And of course the first thing I did was go skiing at ASC, which, although rock skiing, was still skiing!!!! I’m trying to take it slow and adjust to altitude (and get my feet back under me after sitting in a car for a week) but hopefully we’ll get some snow next week and I’ll be ready to ski and ski and ski! Truckee High School practice started the Tuesday, marking my first day as a ski coach. It looks like a really strong group of athletes this year- a lot of very competitive kids who are really invested in having fun by pushing themselves in training and racing, not just by gossiping on the sidelines (of course, that is also very important). When you learn how to have fun even when you’re exhausted and about to collapse, you know you were to be a nordic skier. I’m looking forward to meeting to larger Truckee/Tahoe Nordic Community as the weeks go by and I’m really looking forward to the potential snow this weekend (knock on wood)! See y’all on the trails! Ps. tried but failed to upload pictures…I’ll stick them on another post.

In getting read for some the early season sprints at the West Yellowstone and Bozeman Supertours, we ran a mock sprint today at Auburn Ski Club. We managed to put together a pretty good group of guys, with fellow farmers Noah, Gus, and Wyatt, The Aussies, and some local junior skiers. The format went: self timed prelim, then 3 self seeded heats more or less staggered so everyone finished around eachother to make for some good fast pack skiing. I had some binding and proudly pulled up the rear, but it was still a blast and always fun to go fast.

Here are some photos: I am also the proud new member of a pair of Far West tights courtesy of Martin

Unfortunately, no matter how you try and avoid it getting sick happens to all of us. I spent most of last week KO’ed in bed. Despite the excellent care of fellow farmers Beth, Noah, Wyatt, and Gus, I still managed to lose 10 pounds and am just getting back into the rhythm of training this weekend. As anxious as I am to get back into full on butt kicking training mode, it’s important to make sure my body is actually ready to take in the training. Credit to Jeff Schloss for the rule of waiting to do intensity until 3 days after you start feeling good i.e. actually working out when you have been really sick.

On a more upbeat note, I’m unbelievably excited for our trip to the West Yellowstone ski festival. Even more exciting is the trip to the Supertours in Bozeman myself, Beth, Coach Ben, and some of the juniors (Patrick, Katrin, and ???) Few things about this trip are certain other than it will be buckets binders of fun, I will probably lose any facial hair growing competition, and there will be a lot of skiing. Words can hardly describe my anticipation. . .

Yesterday, Gus, August, and two Austrailian National Team members, PK and Callum, came down to Reno from Truckee to do some low-altitude skate rollerski intervals up Mario Hill. The hill is pretty solid V1, but a strong skier can V2 it. It takes a little under two minutes going all out. Callum and PK were really putting the hurt on us. It was great to get to mix it up with such strong skiers that we don’t often see around Tahoe. They are training with August in Truckee until Thanksgiving camp at West Yellowstone, then are off to do world cups.

The October surprise skiing we had over the weekend might be over for a little while now that the snow is pretty much gone, but the mountain biking is still good. Here’s a photo from a ride Gus and I did today in the foothills below Mt. Rose. Fall colors are getting good, but it ain’t New England colors.

Meet the Team

Noah Brautigam

Spencer Eusden

Spencer is a born and raised Mainer and a recent graduate from Bowdoin College. After experiencing summer skiing and real mexican food during the first year of the Far West College Summer Residency Program in 2011, he had little choice but to come back and race for Far West!

Wyatt Fereday

Hi. I live in Reno, NV and just completed my masters degree in hydrology at the UNR graduate school. I competed in three NCAA skiing championships for Colby College from 2008 to 2011, where I majored in geology. Originally from Boise, Idaho, I’m pumped to be skiing and racing in the Sierras. I like mountain biking, running, eating salmon, walking on my hands, dumpster-diving, and playing guitar.

Gus Johnson

My full name is Gustavo, though I go by Gus. I was a member of the UNR NCAA Ski Team from 2008-2010 and a founder of the UNR Winter Sports Club. I have been a Far West Farm Team member for 2 seasons so far and am looking forward to my third year. I’m working my way toward being a ski coach and english teacher, while still trying to be as fast as I can be. I love mountains and canyons and rivers. My favorite place to be outside of skiing is in the Grand Canyon, though I don’t get to go there as much as I’d like. I’ve started a collaborative project called #summitsunday this year. Check it out and join the movement at summitsunday.blogspot.com

Beth Taylor

hey everybody! I am a recent Bates College graduate originally from the lovely state of Vermont. I enjoy snow, sunshine, and lounging….all great reasons to move to Tahoe. I’m stoked to be out here and ready to rip it up this winter!

Phillip Violett

2004 Graduate of Sugar Bowl Academy. Raced in 6 Junior National Championships (7 X All-American). 2003 represented the US Ski Team in the J1 Scandinavian Cup race series in Sweden. Spent the 2000 & 2004 summer’s training and racing at the Snow Farm in New Zealand. 2009 Graduate of Northern Michigan University. 2010 season competed as Senior member of Team Far West switching my focus from cross-country skiing racing to biathlon! During the 2011 season I focused only on biathlon, competing in 18 races with some respectable results. Currently, I’m racing for Auburn Ski Club and Far West Farm Team, focusing on the NorAm Biathlon race series attempting to qualify for the USBA team.

Holly Whitney

Hi Everyone! I hail from midcoast Maine and graduated from Williams College in 2012 with a degree in Sociology. I’m so excited to return to Truckee for my second year on the elite team and to continue coaching at Truckee High School and Auburn Ski Club. Last season, I had the opportunity to compete for the first time at US Nationals and the American Birkebeiner and I’m looking forward to continuing to improve this season on the national circuit. I am also excited to race locally in the Tahoe area and compete once again for the Fischer Cup. Think Snow!

Meet the Coaches

August Teague

Head Coach Far West Nordic Senior “Farm Team”. UNR Winter Sports Club director. August Teague was head coach of University of Nevada XC ski team for six seasons. Teague helped UNR to top 10 finishes in three of his first four years in Reno, including ninth-place showings in 2005 and 2008 and a 10th-place effort in 2007. In May of 2007, Teague was named to the Cross Country Coaches Committee at the United States Ski Association (USSA) Congress in Park City, Utah. Prior to coming to Nevada in 2004, Teague spent one season as the head Nordic coach at Whitman College in Walla Walla, Wash. Teague lettered four years as a member of the University of Denver cross country skiing team. He helped the Pioneers to three NCAA championships from 2000-2002.

Ben Grasseschi

Co-Head Coach Far West Nordic Senior “Farm Team”. Ben is currently the Head XC Skiing Coach for Far West Nordic as well as Head Coach for Auburn Ski Club. Ben grew up skiing in Montana and Idaho and was a member of the College of Idaho XC Ski Team. Ben’s strengths as a coach are his ability to keep athletes motivated and excited about training and competing. Coaching/Athletic Highlights Head Coach Far West Nordic Junior, Seniors, and Master Programs Head Coach Auburn Ski Club Juniors and Masters Programs Member of College of Idaho Ski Team US Ski Team Junior Scandinavian Trip Coach

Martin Benes

Martin has been a Nordic coach for a range of programs from NCAA champion Dartmouth College to working with 1-2-3 Ski! at Auburn Ski Club. Martin grew up racing in the Far West division in high school, competing on three junior national teams. This is his 6th season as a Nordic coach, having coached for Auburn Ski Club, Dartmouth College, Bates College, Far West, and, currently, Sugar Bowl Academy. As a coach he has worked with Far West junior programs the past 5 summers as well as coached for Far West at 3 junior nationals, 3 nationals, and various other camps and competitions. He is also the founder/creator and head coach of the Collegiate Summer Residency Program. He has been Nordic skiing his whole life and raced competitively from 8th grade through senior year of college, serving as captain of his college team for his senior season.